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TMCnet News
Holy blessings - for a price.May 23, 2009 (The Charlotte Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- INDIAN LAND, S.C. As Easter approached, the ad ran repeatedly on the Inspiration Network: David Cerullo, clutching a Bible, told viewers they, too, could receive prosperity, physical healing and other blessings God gave the ancient Israelites. All they had to do, the televangelist said, was send $200 or more. "Go to your phone," he said. "Sow your Passover offering and watch God do what he said he would ... Call now." Pitches like this have transformed the Charlotte-area cable network into one of the world's fastest-growing Christian broadcasters, beaming into more than 100 countries on five continents. They've also helped turn Cerullo, Inspiration's CEO and on-air host, into a wealthy man. He brings home more than $1.5 million a year, making him the best-paid leader of any religious charity tracked by watchdog groups. His salary dwarfs those of executives leading far larger religious nonprofits. David and Barbara Cerullo live in a 12,000 square-foot lakefront home in south Charlotte -- complete with an elevator and an 1,100-square-foot garage. Their grown children also receive handsome salaries. His network, with a budget of nearly $80 million last year, sprang from the remnants of Jim Bakker's PTL Club. Cerullo and his colleagues have raised much of the money by repeating this on-air assertion: God brings financial favor to those who donate. Cerullo says he's heard from many people who've "reaped a harvest" after contributing. But some donors are disillusioned. Rebecca Mills, 54, of north Mississippi, gave about $400 two years ago. Money was tight. But it was a time when she was recovering from breast cancer and trying to get closer to God. The more she read the Bible, the more she wondered why she'd written those checks: "I could just ... tell that what they were saying wasn't right." Much of the money sent by people like Mills is now funding the City of Light, a 93-acre campus in northern Lancaster County, S.C., where the network's plans include a sophisticated training and broadcast center. Taxpayers are also helping to pay for it. Eager to bring jobs to a county with 19 percent unemployment, South Carolina offered the network incentives worth up to $26 million to land the campus -- a deal that has been questioned by economic development experts. Cerullo said he works hard for his salary and has turned down recommendations that he be paid more. He said his appeals to donors are based on God's promises in the Bible, and that 80 cents of every dollar donated is spent to spread the Gospel. "Ours is an organization based on accountability, based on integrity, based on trust," the 56-year-old minister told the Observer. "We've proven that in the last 18 years over and over again." Rise of a broadcast power The son of a well-known evangelist, David Cerullo didn't grow up wanting to follow his father's path. As a teenager, he planned to be a doctor. But, at his parents' request, he agreed to try Oral Roberts University, a Christian school in Oklahoma. There, he said, he began to feel God point him in another direction. "In that still small voice in my spirit," Cerullo said, "I felt God suggest to me, 'Look, change your major to business, and I have other plans for you.'" After graduating with a business degree, he joined his father's ministry and eventually helped run it. He was ordained in 1974 by the Assemblies of God, but said that even today, "I am probably more comfortable in a roomful of CPAs and lawyers and bankers than I am in a roomful of preachers." His father, Morris, grew up in a Jewish orphanage in New Jersey and converted to Christianity at age 14. Later, Morris Cerullo staged worldwide crusades in which, his Web site says, "the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear." The Inspiration Network launched in 1990, when Morris Cerullo paid $7 million to buy the assets of PTL's cable television network out of bankruptcy. David Cerullo became president. Throughout most of the 1990s, the network differed from many other religious TV stations: It didn't ask for donations on the air. Instead, it generated revenue by selling advertising and airtime for programs produced by other ministries. That changed in 1999. David Cerullo decided Inspiration should create its own programs to spread God's word. "We started to put a face on the network," he said. That required money, so the network began soliciting donations from the public. Increasingly, it came to rely on "prosperity preachers" -- guest evangelists who told viewers that God favored those who donated. The gifts grew rapidly, from about $200,000 in 1999 to about $40 million last year. The influx of money has created a powerhouse of religious broadcasting. The ministry's flagship Inspiration Network carries a variety of programming, from shows featuring controversial evangelists John Hagee and Benny Hinn to Christian hip-hop videos and an adventure show for children. Twice a day, the network airs its homegrown "Inspiration Today!" show, in which Cerullo and other evangelists ask for contributions. Generous pay As their networks grew, David Cerullo and his wife built a comfortable life. Their home, in a gated south Charlotte community, is valued at $1.7 million, real estate records show. Few nonprofit leaders are paid more than Cerullo. In 2007, he received roughly $1.52 million in base pay, along with other compensation totaling about $69,000, according to the ministry's IRS filing. Guidestar, which monitors nonprofits, compiles a database on thousands of charities -- including 13,000 religious organizations that filed IRS returns for 2006, the last year with complete records. None of the faith-based groups paid their leaders more than the Inspiration Network. Even religious nonprofits with vastly larger budgets pay their presidents substantially less, the Observer found. The Christian Broadcasting Network, founded by Pat Robertson, has a budget roughly four times larger than Inspiration's. Compensation to CBN's president totaled $344,000 in 2007. Concern about Cerullo's salary prompted Wall Watchers, which monitors religious charities, to issue a "donor alert" to caution people about giving to the Inspiration Networks. "That amount of salary is outrageous and out of sight," said Rodney Pitzer, research director for the Matthews-based group. Cerullo declined to discuss Wall Watchers' warning. His family is also on the payroll. His wife, Barbara, received about $198,000 in total compensation in 2007, according to Inspiration's IRS return. Son Ben, daughter Becky and their spouses, who also work there, received a total of nearly $400,000, according to a network spokesman. Barbara heads Inspiration's women's ministry. Ben, ordained by his grandfather's ministry, oversees youth efforts. Becky is starting a network aimed at 18- to 34-year-olds. Becky and Barbara are not ordained ministers. IRS rules prohibit nonprofits from paying "unreasonable compensation" to officials. But the agency examines the returns of fewer than 8,000 of the 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations each year. A paid independent consulting firm recommends the salaries of Inspiration's executives, including Cerullo, according to spokesman John Roos. The board of directors makes the final decision. Cerullo said he and his wife, both of whom sit on the board, recuse themselves from discussions about his salary and abstain from the votes. For a while, though, that arrangement apparently left just one board member to decide his salary. From late 2005 to 2008, the board consisted of only three members, including Cerullo and his wife. The board expanded to four members last year and to six members this year, officials say. Today, the board is chaired by Cerullo and includes a fundraising expert and a neighbor who helps run a communications firm. Cerullo says he earns his pay, typically working 60 to 80 hours a week. He oversees four cable networks, a ministry and a television production company, all while playing a key role in developing the City of Light complex, he said. The board received a recommendation that he be paid "substantially" more, Cerullo said, but he turned down the additional money because "I am blessed beyond my imagination ... I don't need it. I don't want it. I won't take it." He said he knows of other religious nonprofits that pay their CEOs more, but he wouldn't identify them. He also declined to share a salary survey used to set his pay. But he said that study looked at compensation for cable network CEOs, church pastors and ministry leaders. Cerullo said the "average preacher" probably would not have the business know-how to do what he does, and that his salary is still below what his peers earn at cable networks such as Discovery and CNN. Cerullo's staff is also well-paid. More than 25 of the network's 330 employees collected over $100,000 in 2007, the IRS filing shows. Roos, Inspiration's senior vice president for marketing, said the network examines national salary averages before setting any employee's pay. "This is a high-tech, very specialized (operation)," he said. "...That comes with a price tag." Still, two larger religious broadcasters, Trinity Broadcasting Network and CBN, had fewer employees earning six-figure salaries, records show. Inspiration has chosen not to join the 1,385-member Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which sets standards for governance and fundraising by Christian charities. "I don't believe in organizations that set themselves up to create burden with very little benefit," Cerullo said. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who is investigating the finances of six other televangelists, questioned why any religious nonprofit would decline to join ECFA, which he likens to a Good Housekeeping seal of approval. Grassley would not comment specifically about the Inspiration Network, but told the Observer that leaders of religious nonprofits should be careful not to use viewers' donations to adopt "filthy rich" lifestyles. Grassley wants to know whether some nonprofits are violating the spending rules that allow them preferential tax treatment. "I saw (PTL's) Jim Bakker treating his organization like a personal ATM," said Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which helps shape the nation's tax laws. "Any religious organization ought to get away from that impression." "Debt cancellation!" Emotional on-air pitches generate much of the money used to pay network salaries. In March, Morris Cerullo appeared on Inspiration's "camp meeting" with a message to fire up prospective donors. "Is anybody ready for the greatest financial breakthrough you've ever experienced in your life?" he asked. The elder Cerullo, a Pentecostal minister, at times appeared to speak in tongues. His gravelly voice periodically rising to a shout, he urged members of the audience to fill envelopes with $900 donations. "When you sow for your financial anointing, the windows of heaven are going to open for you," he said. " ... In the next nine months, you are going to experience more financial blessings than you've ever experienced in your life! 100 fold! Debt cancellation!" Soon, these words appeared on the screen: "Call now with your $900 offering and receive God's debt cancellation." Until about four years ago, the elder Cerullo had served as an unpaid member of the network's board. Like other prosperity preachers who raise money for INSP, Morris Cerullo has been criticized for his fundraising methods. In 2005, he was indicted in California for tax evasion, but the charges were later thrown out. David Cerullo says he believes in his father -- and that good things will happen to donors. He said he has gotten many letters and e-mails from contributors who "received what I would call a harvest." He declined to name them. "I don't back off ... the concept that seeds produce harvest," he said. "It's naturally accurate. It's biblically accurate. It's spiritually accurate.... The Bible says give, and then what? Then it will be given unto you." Laura Gamble is among those who believe her seeds have yielded fruit. The 69-year-old Easley, S.C., resident said she's a regular viewer and contributor. She believes her donations have had something to do with improvements in her health, she said. "I just got out of the hospital, and I'm having a good recovery," she said. "It's God looking out for me." Donors fuel rapid growth Texas televangelist Mike Murdock, Morris Cerullo and the other ministers raising much of the network's money adhere to a much-criticized brand of evangelism called prosperity gospel, which holds that God rewards them and their faithful donors with financial prosperity. With the Inspiration Networks and other broadcasters spreading their messages around the globe, those prosperity preachers have in recent years watched their audiences swell. The financially desperate are among those most likely to be drawn to such pitches, experts say. Janet Gibbens, 60, of northern California, was holding down odd jobs and barely making ends meet about five years ago when she saw Morris Cerullo on the Inspiration Network. She'd been reading Cerullo's books and listening to his preaching for years. When he called himself a prophet of the Lord, she believed him. On the air, the elder Cerullo urged viewers to donate to the network -- and then prepare to receive "financial blessings that would stagger the imagination," she recalled. "I wanted to have something more than this poverty," she said. "If I coughed up the $200 ... He was God's emissary, you know. If you did that in obedience, the sky was the limit." So she sent about $200 -- all that remained in her bank account, she said. But her financial situation never improved. About three years ago, she began reading information that caused her to doubt the claims of the people she had trusted. Her faith in those ministers evaporated and was replaced by rage. She now wonders why she ever believed Cerullo's claims. "It's almost like a brainwashing, that they can convince you to give all your money," she said. In recent years, the debate over the prosperity gospel has been the subject of cover stories in national magazines, theological conferences and Grassley's Senate inquiry. Critics say preachers who espouse it -- from PTL's Jim and Tammy Bakker in the 1980s to Missouri-based Joyce Meyer today -- distort the Bible to justify their luxurious lifestyles. "If that was Christ's message, then I want to know why he wound up on the cross. That's not prospering," said the Rev. Mike McDonald, pastor at Broad Street United Methodist Church in Mooresville. "He warned against seeking material gain -- often quite explicitly." Rev. Michael Horton, a California theology professor who edited "Agony of Deceit," a book that examines the claims of fundraising televangelists, said such appeals lead to "a kind of Ponzi scheme." "Certainly it works out very well for whoever's at the top," he said. One former Inspiration employee, who asked not to be named, said many of the network's donors were elderly people of limited means who hoped that giving to the network would help them "turn their own situations around." She said she valued the network's mission of saving souls, but was troubled by the growing number of on-air promises that God would bring good things to donors. "That teaches people that the things of God are for sale," she said. "I just have a problem with that. That stuff's not for sale." Staff researcher Maria David contributed. To see more of The Charlotte Observer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.charlotteobserver.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Charlotte Observer, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |


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First of all, take note that this is the first public intervention by a CC member, with the exception of the re-posting of an internal Party Notes statement. Alex's article is clearly similarly aimed at an internal audience: no one could use these arguments in their workplace to defend the SWP, for which the 'strong interventionist' leadership is supposed to provide the means. If members doubt this, they might test it in practice. When asked about allegations of a rape cover up in the SWP, by a workmate or fellow student or union activist, give Alex Callinicos's answer: euphemise about a 'difficult disciplinary case' and then mention that Owen Jones is a Labour supporter. See if that works. See if the Party still has their respect next time it launches an initiative. Then consider that the CC, having brought about this situation by their decisions, expect you to do what they will not, which is defend it in public.
Of course, it may be possible that your activist or trade unionist comrade has simply been misled by the gossip and half-truths of the 'dark side of the internet'. Incidentally, this blimpish insult is a disgrace: it implies that comrades concerned about the treatment of an allegation of rape and sexual harassment within the SWP are equivalent to child pornographers and 401 scammers. Alex brushes aside the offline 'real world' motions calling for an emergency conference passed (at the time of writing) at 8 SWP branches, the motions critical of the CC passed at a further 8 and the statements of opposition issued by 13 SWSS groups. But what are the internet lies and half-truths? Alex
1) That a complaint was made in July 2010 against comrade Delta? Alex may rely on the bureaucratic claim that no formal complaint was made to the Disputes Commission: this contradicts basic common sense as well as the introduction given by the DC member who opened the 2013 conference session, who referred to an
2) That the nature of this complaint was obfuscated and the impression given that it was merely a case of unhappiness in a failed relationship? If so, why did the CC use conference time on a personal matter?
3) That the disputes commission into the complaint issued in September 2012 contained 5 close colleagues and associates of comrade Delta, and 2 members of the Central Committee on which he sat?
4) That one member of the DC found that it was likely that Comrade Delta had committed sexual harassment and that the rest found the case 'not proven' not that Delta was exonerated as a 'member in good standing'? The DC ruled 'not guilty' on the charge of rape: they therefore distinguished between 'not guilty' and 'not proven'. This implies that the CC believe that a member whom the DC consider may be a sexual harasser – to a degree significant enough not to be given the protection of a 'not guilty' decision - is still 'in good standing.'
5) That the complainant was denied the right to put her side of the case to conference in 2013?
6) That a second woman, having complained of sexual harassment by Delta, did not have confidence in the DC to deal with her complaint because of the way in which it had dealt with the first case?
7) That the women involved were asked questions about their drinking and relationship habits? They claim to have been: if Alex denies this, he is saying they are liars, not the internet.
Which of these are lies? If they are not lies, how on earth are comrades meant to defend these points to the class? Perhaps we are to rely on the notion that SWP members possess a 'political morality' that ensures they adjudicate correctly whether their comrades have raped someone. Try that also –there is no way it would be accepted by anyone outside the SWP, and hopefully not by many within it. Would you accept that argument of any other organization? It cannot withstand scrutiny from our own comrades in the (avowedly Leninist) sister organisations of the International Socialist Tendency, leading members of which are now participating in a boycott of SWP events and publications – let alone the wider layers of the class and its organisations which we formerly called 'our periphery' but to which Alex now refers as 'Owen Jones and his like'.
The model operated currently by the SWP is not that of the Bolshevik revolution. It is a version of the Zinovievite model adopted during the period of "Bolshevisation" in the mid-1920s and then honed by ever smaller and more marginal groups. When Alex implies that somehow we have developed a 'distilled' version of Bolshevik democratic centralism he is not holding to the tradition of October: it is asking us to choose the model that has led to three of the most serious crises in the SWP's history in quick succession over the model that actually did lead the October revolution.
Alex concedes in passing that there are different models of democratic centralism, but ends by effectively arguing that there is really only one: the model which currently exists in the SWP. But merely invoking the term "democratic centralism" does not tell you anything about which level of decision get made by which people, how frequently decisions are made or what mechanisms should exist for review, let alone how to elect a Central Committee or of whom it should consist. Two examples will show how our current model is weighted towards centralism at the expense of democracy.
The first is in relation to decision making. According to the theory, conference discusses and decides (democracy) and then comrades, including those who opposed the agreed position, carry out the decisions (centralism). Fine: but what does conference actually decide? It is presented with a series of general perspective documents which are usually so bland and platitudinous that it is virtually impossible to disagree with them: the economic crisis is not going to be resolved, times are hard but there are also opportunities, we must not be complacent over the threat of fascism, and so on. To agree with this kind of statement is not to make a decision over strategy or tactics, or anything specific enough for the CC to be held to account. The real decisions about actual policy – to establish united fronts, to join electoral coalitions – are almost always made by the CC itself between conferences, with conference asked to ratify them after the event.
The second is in relation to the composition of the CC. The CC self-selects: it has an agreed political perspective; when someone dies or resigns it chooses as replacements comrades who agree – or who are thought to agree – with that perspective; at no point is the chain ever broken by open political debate. And if the perspective is wrong? The problems extend to the membership of the CC. What are the requirements of a potential CC member? There are apparently two: that they should live in or around London and that – with a handful of exceptions – they are full-time employees of the party. So - the comrades who are eligible for membership of the CC are those who until their selection have been paid to carry out the decisions of the previous CC and who, because they tend to have been students beforehand, rarely have any direct experience of the class struggle. How can a leadership this narrow be capable of forming an accurate perspective?
To deal with one diversionary objection: to complain about the composition of the CC is not to demand that 'federalist' structure. We do not want a CC in which its members represent trade unionists, or community activists or students – but we do want a CC which embodies the actual experience of these groups. Some roles on the CC can only ever be carried out by full-timers, notably the editor of Socialist Worker and the national Secretary, but the balance should always be towards those for whom the experience of the "real world" is inescapable.
After the catastrophes of the last five years a measure of humility would also be welcome. Alex is part of the 'strong, interventionist' leadership that has presided over this disaster with no effective response, following on from a period of near permanent crisis that began with the failure of the Respect adventure – for which Alex surely also bears some collective responsibility, as a member of the CC at the time. When will this strong, interventionist leadership ever hold itself responsible for what happens on its watch? What do they think has gone wrong? If they can't manage this, how will they cope in a revolution?
We agree with Alex that the SWP is the best hope for developing a revolutionary party in in Britain. It has at least two great historic achievements to its credit in the Anti-Nazi League and its successors, and the Stop the War Coalition – movements which actually helped to change aspects of British society for the better, particularly in relation to racism. They are among the reasons why many have remained members in spite of the obstacles which successive leaderships have thrown up to democracy in the party. But if the SWP is ever to achieve its full potential the current situation cannot be allowed to continue.
Alex reiterates that if the SWP did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it. We agree – and that for the party to continue to exist, it is necessary to reinvent it. This is not alien to our tradition: perhaps it is best to leave the last word to one of its brightest lights, David Widgery in his review of the third volume
of Cliff's biography of Lenin:
"The blossoming-blighting process which Cliff documents froze over Leninism and only mass revolutionary working-class action is able to melt it from its icy limbo. Lenin is therefore trapped in his moment, surrounded by a thicket and awaiting political rescue: 'An old communist conceives an embryo of longing'. One day, his Modern Prince will come. Until he is woken with the proletarian kiss, the problem is not that Leninism has failed, but that it has not been tried."
The time for Leninism to be tried is now long overdue.
Jamie Allinson
Neil Davidson
Gareth Dale
China Miéville
Richard Seymour
John Game
Alex Anievas
Gonzalo Pozo
Hannah Elsisi
Kris Stewart
Jamie Pitman
Ciara Squires
Keith Paterson
Nathan Akehurst
Toni Mayo
Linda Rodgers
Andy Lawson

subset: commoncrawl


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Amp titan Marshall may be best known for those towering stacks but the company has periodically produced tasty little amps too. The new Haze series is designed to offer a sensible range of real-world features in compact packages to meet our rehearsing, recording and small gigging needs.
This Haze MHZ40C is a 40-watt 1 x 12 combo that runs on a pair of EL34 output valves. It is a two-channel design; 'normal' handles clean to crunch, and 'overdrive' goes from crunch to higher gain. The combo also has an additional boost function that works in both channels.
According to Marshall's R&D designer James Marchant, this boost changes the overdrive stage from a clipping- to a saturation-style character, courtesy of a clever bit of bias adjustment.
The amount of boost is considerable but it's fixed, so your guitar's volume control is all-important in achieving the texture and response you like best from the boosted mode.
If you go for the optional Haze Footcontroller (£39), the boost is also footswitchable, giving you four basic sounds at your feet. The standard, included switch is a two-button unit that changes channel and switches the effects on and off. The MHZ40C also boasts a global three-band EQ section with an additional presence control.
This combo comes with a collection of digitally created effects that are designed to retain a good deal of analogue warmth and feel. The emulated spring reverb has its own pot and can be switched completely out of the circuit if you so desire.
In addition you have a choice of vibrato (vibe, orange), delay (echo, green) and chorus (red) courtesy of a push-switch that changes colour to indicate the effect selected. The adjust pot changes an effect's parameter: delay time from short slapback through to 1000ms; vibrato depth and chorus depth.
Effects settings
One cool thing about the effects section is that each channel 'remembers' its effects settings. So, for example, you can set up a clean tone with a bit of reverb and chorus, then switch to a no-reverb overdrive sound with delay in channel two.
Until you physically switch off any of the effects, they'll always be there in that specific channel: neat. One minor downside is that there's a short but noticeable delay when switching channels due to the relays used. The pay-off is that switching is silent with no pops or clunks.
Marshall has gone to the trouble of incorporating speaker-emulated line-out and effects loop options into the combo.The loop is a simple series affair, so pedals and units with their own level controls work best, while the line out offers a direct feed straight to a desk or mixing console. It's not as realistic as a sympathetically mic'd speaker, but it's immeasurably better than a dry, non-EQ'd DI.
The combo is in a sensibly sized, rear-ported box; not so small that the tone is boxy, but not too big that it won't fit in the back seat of the car, or indeed in the boot along with a modest pedalboard, leads bag and two gigbags.
There's enough clean headroom in the normal channel for funky chord parts and single-note lines to cut through the mix in a sensible pub band. The bottom end remains tight, with a fairly hard treble and punchy mids: very Marshally clean, you might say, and quite different from the bloomy, chimey openness of Fender's ubiquitous Hot Rod Deluxe.
Upping the volume brings in a certain edge, but if you want crunch from the normal channel, it's better to use the boost function; it's not entirely unlike a well-opened JCM800 in fact, with a sizzley classic rock crunch.
Here, the slight hardness apparent in the clean voice comes into its own by keeping things focused and able to cut through, while still sitting in a band mix. In many people's minds this is what Marshalls were 'for' in the pre-JCM900 days, and also where the aforementioned Hot Rod Deluxe struggles somewhat.
The overdrive channel introduces, as you'd expect, more distortion. It ranges from a light drive that sounds a little weaker than the clean channel's crunch mode, through to a tight (in a good way) distortion that keeps the notes cutting through.
This isn't a metal monster, not least because of its 1 x 12 format, and even with the boost switch engaged, it always feels slightly more classic rock than modern metal.
Cranked up, the power section begins to sag a little, although it retains the EL34's relatively tight bottom end to provide good note separation. If you want super-smooth and creamy Santana-style distortion, just add a distortion pedal of your preference.
The effects are dead easy to set up, and Marshall should be credited for their all-round quality and ease of use. Some may wish for more control over parameters such as delay decay, but the settings offered make sense in most classic rock and pop applications. It's a boon to have them at your fingertips, but it's worth asking whether some players would trade this versatility in for better quality cabinets and a variable boost.
Compact, mid-powered valve workhorses are the amps most of us use, most of the time. With the Haze 40 combo, Marshall is offering a no-nonsense classic-voiced 1 x 12 package that many would argue has been absent since the venerable JCM800 4010 combo of the eighties.
Until now there was a surprising lack of good value, Brit-flavoured alternatives to Fender's Hot Rod and Blues Deluxe stalwarts. Cost concessions put clear water between these and the big M's low-power Handwired models, but compared with amps in their price bracket there's a great deal here to like.


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Call screening has been a boon in the world of telecommunication, significantly impacting how businesses and individuals manage their incoming calls. But what exactly is call screening, and why is it...
XLN Telecom vs Telnyx
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Traveling with children, especially small children, can seem daunting. When travel involves long plane rides and/or car rides, it can seem terrifying! Over the past 6 years I have traveled in planes with my children to places like Peru, Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, and Iceland. Also, we do many quick, but long distance car rides. People say I'm crazy, but it is actually quite amazing. With traveling holidays approaching, I wanted to share a few thing that I always take with me for entertaining children on planes, trains, automobiles, and in hotels….
I have tried lots of different plans of attack to this regard, but have decided a few open ended toys and crafts go far and don't take up too much space. Here are my favorite go-tos and why:
- Magnetic tiles like these wooden ones from Big Future Toys. These might be my favorite hands on toys for travel, home, restaurants, you name it. They never fail to quietly entertain for long periods of time. Not only do my children love them, I love them – because they intrigue the mind. They help foster creativity and problem solving and wonder. "How can I make this a certain way, what else can I do with these, what if I did this…." They keep those little wheels turning, and those faces smiling. Also, I love the natural material option of wood, as I always strive to rid my life of plastic and waste and bring in more natural options.
- Play Silks. Throw in a couple play silks, they compact to nearly nothing and weigh about the same. However, they can provide SO much entertainment. For babies, a simple peek a boo game or cuddle blankie. For toddlers and older kids there are an unending number of imaginative play ideas from babydoll carriers to puppet shows. Throw in a couple wooden clips and build some forts on the airplane seats.
- just a few small figurines and/or cars. A couple wooden peg dolls or animal figurines can lead into so many imaginative play sessions. Pretend they are going to where you are traveling at, what do they see and do? use the play silks to make a scene for them.
- Sketchbook and washable crayons or markers. Instead of stocking up on different coloring books and 'travel' art supplies, make it easy on yourself. A blank sketchbook and a pack of WASHABLE (because it's not our plane or bedspread were staying on haha) crayons, pencils, or markers can lead to travel journaling, drawing, games, and more.
- Crafts. There are so many options for crafts out there. I have found once again that going with an open ended approach is better than bring specific kits and crafts. a few balls of yarn and a small loom will provide a craft for preschoolers and up that will last much longer than 5 minutes. You can also try learning or teaching a new skill and throw in a crochet hook. Young kids may like weaving found objects into the loom for fun. The yarn can also be used as string for cats cradle or fort building or anything else you may dream up.
- Bees wax wraps. Obviously, bringing lots of snacks is a great idea. However, It can also become an activity. I love how my friend's son used our handmade beeswax wraps to do origami! What a great idea for once the snack inside is gone!
- Lastly you will see a small pick up stix game. This was a new addition for me and turned out wonderfully. My 3 and 6 year old loved the game and we could also use the different colored sticks for sorting and counting activities.
Post by Grace Spath | Photos by Grace Spath and Courtney Menezes | Toys by Big Future Toys, Goose Grease, Needles and Spines | Clothes from Chasing Windmill Kids and Indi Scout


text:
The alphabet network has pulled the Bob Saget sitcom after just four episodes. The show was attracting nearly 10 million viewers, so what's the problem?
Surviving Suburbia centers around Steve and Annie Patterson (Bob Saget and Cynthia Stevenson), heads of a typical suburban family. But, unlike the idyllic sitcom dads of the past, Steve has a cynical view of everything around him. Others in the cast include Jared Kusnitz, G. Hannelius, Jere Burns, Dan Cortese, and Lorna Scott.
Originally slated to air on the CW, ABC picked up the sitcom for a midseason run. Suburbia debuted on April 6th to 12.16 million viewers and a 3.2/8 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. The second installment slid to 11.25 million and a 3/7 in the demo. The most recent installment (on April 27th) hit a series low of 9.91 million and a 2.4/6 rating/share. While the decline certainly isn't positive, the series still attracts more than many other shows on network TV. Why pull it?
Suburbia has the enviable fortune of airing out of the very popular Dancing with the Stars. Unfortunately, the sitcom doesn't retain enough of that show's audience. The most recent episode lost 50% of Stars' viewership in both total viewers and the targeted demographic. That's not good and ABC is likely convinced it can do better.
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In fact, Suburbia was preempted this week and so Castle directly followed Stars. The schedule change helped give Castle a nice little bump in ratings.
As a result, the network has pulled Suburbia for the remainder of the May sweeps period but has said that the sitcom will return on Wednesday, May 27th. The show is still scheduled to conclude its first season on July 1st but, because of the scheduling changes, there will still be a couple episode left unaired. ABC may or may not air them at a later date.
Though Suburbia's renewal is certainly still a possibility, this doesn't bode well for the sitcom's chances for a second year. ABC will announce its 2009 – 2010 schedule on May 19th. What do you think? Is it worth saving?


text:
In the Groove
The sun is golden and the air is crisp -there's something special about the great outdoors at this time of year! This month, The Groove is helping you to jump into autumn as though it is a great big pile of leaves!
First, we have some great featured layouts from our gallery showing off some fun in the fresh fall air – like lindaathome's spirited layout above!
Next, we have details about an all-new Thanksgiving Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 – read on to learn how you can get over $100 worth of Thanksgiving and fall-themed digital scrapbooking content for only $14.95!! (details below!).
Last but not certainly least, we have a GORGEOUS freebie kit and challenge from designer Carena Scott – that and more layouts and kit showpages to get you inspired to scrap the season!
NEW! Family Thanksgiving "Mega" Expansion Pack
Introducing the NEW! Family Thanksgiving Expansion Pack for Scrapbook MAX! 2.0. This is a richly colored and versatile collection of Thanksgiving and fall-themed digital scrapbooking kits and coordinating templates. Sold separately, you would pay over $100 for everything included. But during the month of November 2011, you can get it for the special introductory price of only $14.95 US by using the link below!
Click here to learn more, and to find the Buy Now button to get this fantastic price!
Family Thanksgiving includes ten premium digital scrapbooking kits and 44 unique template pages. Themes such as Harvest, Family Album, Travel, Thanksgiving Cards, and Fall Country make this collection a must-have for scrapping family, friends, and autumn moments. Offer ends November 30, 2011 – so be sure to hurry!
Special introductory pricing ends November 30, 2011. Use the special link to get this discount. Applies to new orders only. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers. Family Thanksgiving requires Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 software.
**See Sample Layouts Below Using the NEW Family Thanksgiving Expansion Pack!**
From Katie Castillo's "Autumn Burst" (Family Thanksgiving Expansion Pack):
From Michelle McCoy's "Harvest" (Family Thanksgiving Expansion Pack):
From Fiona Storey's "Its All Relative" (Family Thanksgiving Expansion Pack):
Did you miss out on our introductory offer for "Halloween Fun"? There's still time to save! We've carried over our spook-tacular introductory offer on this Scrapbook MAX! 2.0 expansion pack until midnight, November 5, 2011!
Grab it now and scrap all your Halloween memories. With over $100 worth of digital scrapbooking goodies, the $14.95 sale price is too good of a 'treat' to miss!
Click here to learn more, and to find the Buy Now button to get this fantastic price!
The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge
Each month, a designer offers a great freebie mini-kit and issues a challenge. All you need to do is download the freebie, create a layout that steps up to the challenge, upload it to the Groove challenge category in the gallery, and post a link to your layout in a reply to the challenge thread!
This month, Scrapbook MAX! kit designer Carena Scott is offering you a dreamy set of elements for creating dazzling layouts. For all of the details please check out the November 2011 freebie challenge thread here.
November 2011 Featured Kits
Looking for kits with Carena's signature style? Here's a few for your list, all found in our Featured Content section of the store! You can save 10% off these four featured kits by typing in the coupon code NOV-CSC at checkout. Offer is valid on new orders only in the Featured Content section – expires November 30, 2011.
Playing Through the Seasons
Here are two amazing layouts by Scrapbook MAX! community members. Daydreamer captures the spirit of those golden days of autumn with neutral colors and rustic embies. Victoria64 invites us to embrace the frosty chill of winter by featuring a hockey game cast against icy blues, and warmed up by balsam greens. Beautiful work, ladies – and you can see the joy on everyone's faces!
Look for the next issue of The Groove on December 1, 2011!


text: Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. A rooster, a mallard, and a white duck walked into a pond and into a beautiful friendship. A white duck with a limp, a rooster nicknamed Cocky and a mallard have settled down together at a pond on the grounds of a retirement community in White Rock, South Carolina. The State newspaper reports the trio has captured the imagination of residents there, who can't get enough of the birds of different feathers flocking together. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
BT501 Assignment 1 Solution and Discussion
BT501: Health Biotechnology
Assignment No. 1
Spring 2020
Due Date: 28 May 2020
Audio Introduction:
"Please prepare an audio introduction file through any available device. Preferably Sound recorder of the Windows"
General instructions
• Total time of audio introduction will be 5 minutes.
o Course name and code (30 sec) (Very Important)
o Your Introduction (2 minutes)
o Your academic Background (1 minute)
o Views about course (1 minute)
o Expectations about the course (30 sec)
• This assignment carries 10 marks.
• Audio Introduction file should be uploaded on LMS not later than 28 May 2020DO NOT send the assignment thorough email. Assignments submitted through email will result in no marks.
Instructions for audio recording through Sound recorder of the windows
• Open Windows Search
• Write "Sound recorder" in the search bar and click enter
• Select the program "Sound recorder" Open it and start recording.
• Save the file and send it through the LMS.
This assignment will help you to develop presentation skills and strengthen you to present yourself in front of audience. -


text:
The Coffee
Someone very wise once told me that you can compare any tough situation to a pot of boiling water. When you find yourself in a steaming pot of boiling water (insert traumatic or generally life altering event here), you will either be the egg, the carrot, or the coffee bean.
1) The Egg: This is the person who becomes the angry bitch. This person is hardened by the boiling water and is the type of person you really don't want to be around. I have been cursed out many times by these people in traffic. That woman you passed in the grocery store who was mumbling under her breath about child support payments she hadn't received (while turning to her friend and bitching about why she can't get a man to date her) – she is the egg.
2) The Carrot: This is the person who turned into complete mush from the boiling water. This person is so traumatized and soft that she cries at the drop of a hat because everything and anything reminds her of the boiling water. These people are fragile and not typically fighters. They are perfect victims because the boiling water makes them soft enough to eat alive.
3) The coffee: This person is like the coffee bean when faced with boiling water. Instead of getting worse, the coffee bean changes herself and her surroundings into something strong – tasty- and better than before.
In the past year, I have experienced a little of each of these characters (the egg, the carrot, and the coffee bean); however, my goal on this journey is to become like the coffee bean.
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4 Comments
i like this metaphor a lot..
hope you're doing well.
keep your head up;
I love this – Good luck and great job thus far! Do I detect a new profession in the works! 😉
I've just read your ABOUT but was not able to comment on it. I am now reading through your blog because I want to know what happened to your son, Prince. I sense not good. My sincere heart to you.


text:
The Jil Sander brand bears the name of its founder – a designer known for her love of fashion minimalism and elegant style. Jil Sander is celebrated for her timeless clothing designs with no superfluous embellishments or bright colours. Having studied clothing design, she opened her own boutique and sold some of her own designs amongst the designer wear. Jil's success continued with her first collection, followed by opening her own fashion house.
At first the brand focused only on clothing, but she gradually began to include beauty products as well. Her first fragrance collection was launched in 1979 with Jil Sander Man Pure and Jil Sander Woman Pure.
Today Jil Sander perfumes come in over 70 different scents, created in collaboration with leading perfumers and the global cosmetic brand Coty. The style of Jil Sander is still synonymous with minimalism, but it never forgets to highlight the masculine and feminine attributes.


text:
Week in review
Posted: - Modified: | weekly- Back in Canada to work on my thesis.
- Outlined my thesis and started panicking about timing of work. Have
decided to adjust my expected finish date in order to preserve sanity. - Finished notes from screen captures.
- Found my keys, yay!
- Got a new SIM and a new charger. My phone's okay now.
- Finally unpacked and settled in.
- Found a little time to breathe. Wrote my family a long message. Replied to my sister, too.
- Still sorting out my schedule for the next few weeks. Will squeeze speaking engagements into weekends.
Next week:
- Write results section of thesis.
- Get the paperwork started for extension of study permit.
- Ping people in job search process once I get a more reasonable estimate of finishing time.
Random Emacs symbol: pgg-display-error-buffer – Function: Pop up an
error buffer indicating the reason for an en/decryption failure.
You can comment with Disqus or you can e-mail me at email@example.com.


text:
RTC Conference Primers: #9 – Conference USA
Posted by Brian Goodman on October 28th, 2010Steve Coulter of the DU Clarion is the RTC correspondent for Conference USA.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Memphis (15-1)
- Marshall (10-6)
- Southern Mississippi (9-7)
- Houston (8-8)
- Tulsa (8-8)
- East Carolina (6-10)
- Southern Methodist (6-10)
- Central Florida (5-11)
- Tulane (2-14)
- Rice (1-15)
All-Conference First Team
- G: Justin Hurtt, Tulsa, Sr.
- G: Randy Culpepper, UTEP, Sr. (Preseason Player of the Year)
- F: Wesley Witherspoon, Memphis, Jr.
- F: Gary Flowers, Southern Mississippi
- F/C: Will Coleman, Memphis, Sr.
All-Conference Second Team
- G: Brock Young, East Carolina, Sr.
- G: Joe Jackson, Memphis, Fr.
- G/F: Will Barton, Memphis, Fr.
- F: Jeremy Williams, UTEP, Jr.
- F/C: Papa Dia, SMU, Sr.
Impact Newcomers
Several freshman and transfer players will suit up for C-USA squads this season, but three that have grabbed everyone's attention before the season has gone under way.
- Charles Carmouche, SG, Memphis: The junior transfer from New Orleans is a sharpshooter who can be the difference-maker late in the season. He is eligible to play right way, as the Privateers dismantled their program and moved to Division III status.
- Scottie Haralson, G, Tulsa: The UConn transfer could get a lot of playing time and be one of those studs that people talk about at the end of the season. Of course, it really depends whether he is cleared to play.
- Joseph Young, G, Houston: The freshman was a Parade All-America Third-Team selection from Yates High School. He is a talented young guard in a class with athletic forwards that makes Houston a contender in the conference once again. The infusion of a guy like Young into the lineup could spark a team looking for a playmaker. Young was the Texas Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year last season.
What You Need to Know
- There are six first-year coaches in the league this season; Tim Floyd getting hired at UTEP was probably the biggest offseason coaching move.
- The Conference USA Men's Basketball Championships will be held in El Paso, giving UTEP a slight home court advantage against their conference opponents. The first game tips off on Wednesday, March 9. The tournament ends on Saturday, March 12 and the final will be broadcasted on CBS.
- UAB's Aaron Johnson enters the season in need of 173 assists to become the school's all-time leader. 597 assists is currently the record and the senior point guard leads a well-balanced UAB squad that could emerge as an at-large dark horse. The 5'8 point guard finished his junior year averaging 9.6 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, and 2.5 rebounds per game.


text:
A glorious day on the beach this morning as Jack and I took our morning consitutional. See for yourself.
The tide was out.
Having a little trouble with my new phone - I was trying to take of photo of textures in the rocks...
Jack's shadow portrait.
Rainbow - this is what greeted me as I rounded the last headland.


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Do you ever have one of those days? You
know, the day where nothing happens according to your plan?
Today is definitely that day.
My plan for the morning involved
sharing with you a recipe for Herbs de Provence.
It's heavenly. It's romantic. I mean,
honestly—doesn't just saying "Herbs de Provence"
transport you to a lavender field in—well, Provence?
Plus, it tastes delicious.
And I'm still going to share it with
But here's the thing: this morning, as
I went to the garden to harvest the herbs I needed, I encountered a
small problem.
Savory is MIA.
Now, I know our gardens are a
bit...unruly. OK, they're jungle-like at the moment. The lemongrass
towers over the thyme. The basil battles the rosemary for space. The sage is
strangled by the oregano. Fighting through the herbs and weeds—and
not finding the savory--I decided that it must be hidden. I moved
vines, pulled weeds, looked under leaves.
I searched all four herb gardens...no
savory. Either some critter decided to have a savory snack—or the
competition in the garden got too fierce for its survival.
No problem. I decided to head over to a
nearby nursery.
No savory.
OK, I went to a not-so-nearby nursery.
No savory.
I considered driving to a
much-further-away nursery...but the sudden torrential downpour
inspired me to stop by the grocery store instead.
No savory. I hoped for a fresh packet—but they didn't even have dried savory.
I came home, ate a handful of Lucky
Charms (I know, it's disgusting), and decided this:
My Herbs de Provence will not include
savory. But—the recipe I'm giving you will.
Honestly, if savory is going to be that
difficult—well, then I'm going to boycott it. (However, I'm going
to start some more from seed this afternoon.)
While I often preserve produce, I tend to
neglect harvesting herbs to store. I'm spoiled, I suppose—I cut
herbs as I need them for meals. Still, preparing a mix of some of our
favorite herbs saves time, plus the flavor evolves as it ages.
Although Herbs de Provence sounds
pretentious, it's really a simple blend of dried herbs typical to the
Provence region of France. The blend can be used to flavor grilled
foods, such as fish and meat, or added to vegetables and stews. You
can also infuse oil with Herbs de Provence.
My herbs—minus the savory—are
drying. I typically use fresh herbs when cooking, but the dried herbs
will store well for up to six months.
Herbs de Provence
Adapted from The Complete Illustrated
Book of Herbs
4 tablespoons dried rosemary leaves
3 tablespoons dried sweet marjoram
2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves
3 tablespoons dried savory (if you can
find it!)
2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
Crush the herbs using a mortar and
pestle or large knife until very fine. Combine the herbs and place in
an airtight jar. Store in a cool, dark location.
The best part of creating Herbs de
Provence? Your hands smell divine for the rest of the day!
Julie (who is now going to plant more
savory seeds)


text:
When babies graduate to solid foods
Look for healthy options as you expand your baby's diet
One of the milestones in a child's life is graduating to solid foods. But how do you know if your little one is ready? And what foods should they be eating? Here's what you need to know.
Ready for solid foods?
The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) says each child's readiness for solid foods depends on his or her rate of development. To determine if your baby is ready, ask yourself:
- Can your baby hold his or her head up with good control?
- Does he or she open his or her mouth when you offer food?
- Can he or she move food from a spoon into the back of the mouth to enable swallowing?
Most children are ready for solid foods when they can accomplish these tasks and have doubled their birth weight. This generally occurs by six months of age, but consult your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns.
One food at a time
Parents typically start by introducing soft and pureed foods, expanding their child's diet gradually. The AAP recommends giving one new food at a time and waiting a couple of days before adding another. If any allergic reactions occur, such as diarrhea, rash or vomiting, stop the new food and talk with your pediatrician.
Within a few months of introducing solid and pureed foods, a baby's diet should include a variety of foods, such as:
- Breast milk and/or formula
- Meats
- Fruits and vegetables
- Eggs
- Fish
- Finger food ideas
Once your child can sit up and bring hands and objects to mouth, you can offer finger foods. Make sure food is cut into small pieces and easy to swallow. A good option is breakfast cereal. Post brand Sesame Street Cereal is among cereals specifically formulated to melt in your child's mouth for safe consumption. Learn more at postfoods.com.
When purchasing finger foods, make sure you're providing nutrients toddlers need. "I always focus on nutritional benefits when buying foods for my two little ones," says Dr. Roshini Raj, a physician. "Specifically, check for whole grains and fortification of nutrients like choline, iron and zinc that help with brain development."
Other ideas include:
- Banana, peach, plum and avocado pieces
- Small pieces of cucumber
- Cooked and mashed sweet potato, squash and peas
- Scrambled eggs
- Cooked elbow pasta with marinara sauce
- Cooked and finely chopped chicken or fish
Share this story:


text:
Queens Of The Stone Age: Rated R (Rx reissue) review
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated Rx (reissue)
Is it really a whole decade since Rated R's original release? We must admit to being taken slightly by surprise when we discovered that Queens Of The Stone Age were reissuing their breakthrough second album to celebrate ten years since its first airing.
Maybe it's hard to think of Rated R as a 'classic album' because it's aged so well. In terms of both songwriting and production the record stands up against any great rock record released in the latter half of the last decade.
Of course, despite Rated R marking QOTSA's breakthrough, they were by no means a band coming out of nowhere. Vocalist, guitarist, band-leader and producer Josh Homme already had a more-than-impressive CV behind him by the turn of the millennium. Prior to forming QOTSA Homme had spent much of the '90s as lead guitarist of the scene-defining 'stoner rock' band Kyuss, whom he'd formed in the late '80s at the tender age of 15.
Homme was also already several years into his Desert Sessions project - a series of collaborative albums recorded in the desert in Joshua Tree, Homme's hometown - more on that later.
Rated R, however, was by no means a single-person effort. As has always been the case, the Queens Of The Stone Age of Rated R consisted of an ever revolving line-up of musicians and contributors; there are performances from 17 different musicians on Rated R. Most notable of these is Nick Oliveri, who was, from the Rated R sessions until his 2004 dismissal from the band, QOTSA's full-time bassist and a close collaborator of Homme. It's worth noting that Oliveri is also a man with, it seems, a genuine passion for getting naked.
So let's take a track-by-track look at Rated Rx and see how Queens Of The Stone Age's classic album is looking in 2010…
Feel Good Hit Of The Summer
The opening one-two of Feel Good Hit Of The Summer and Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret is still QOTSA's most infectious moment to date.
Feel Good Hit is the song that nearly got Rated R pulled from sale by several major American retailers, most notably Wal-Mart. It's not surprising to be honest; the lyrics are essentially just a repeated list of drugs (nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, alcohol and cocaine to be precise).
Actually drugs are a fairly important reference point when discussing Rated R. The repeated references to illicit substances, and Homme's background in Kyuss, often means that Rated R gets labelled as a stoner rock album.
But the desert rock scene that sprang up around Palm Desert at the turn of the millennium is actually a bold step away from those '90s stoner roots. The meticulously tight riffs of Kyuss are still present, but Rated R is more eclectic, emotive and edgier than its roots.
Right from the opening Feel Good Hit is clearly set apart from the slow, grungy riffs of stoner music. With its punk rock bassline and urgent drum build-ups there's the kind of energy to the song that you just don't get when you've been spending a lot of time with Mary Jane.
The track also features backing vocals from Judas Priest singer Rob Halford who, as the story goes, was recording in the studio next door and was talked into making a vocal cameo.
Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret
It's impossible to overlook how great it sounds when Feel Good Hit slides into the intro drum fill of Lost Art.
Whereas Feel Good Hit Of The Summer was punky and energetic, Lost Art is tight, melodic and poppy. That's not to say it's a simple track though. The great songwriting and production - the way the electric piano is panned hard left with the guitar riff chugging to the right - mean this is streets ahead of your average rock single.
As with several other tracks on Rated R, Lost Art is a step forward form the band's stoner rock background. There's obviously still tricks that were learnt from the '90s; the tight playing, the repetitive riffs. But now there's a very memorable chorus in there too. In production terms also, there's less emphasis on guitar and drums and numerous great little instrumental touches are added. It almost hints at an influence from classic '60s and '70s pop records.
Leg Of Lamb
Leg Of Lamb is where Rated R takes a turn away from catchy, hook-filled singles towards weirder territory.
It's a great track for the way the two panned guitars interplay with each other; a tight riff to the left, and another to the right built around feedback and fret-noise. And then those washy guitar chords come in underpinning the chorus - it's rare that guitar music sound this interesting.
Auto Pilot
Auto Pilot is the first Queens Of The Stone Age recording that features Nick Oliveri on lead vocals.
After Homme Nick is generally spoken of as the second biggest player in QOTSA's history, which is odd in a way. He only actually ever appeared on two Queens records - this and Songs For The Deaf - and hasn't played with the band since him and Homme had a fairly public bust-up in '04. In actuality there are other members, such as Mark Lanegan and Perfect Circle guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, who have statistically appeared with the band for longer periods.
Oliveri is probably seen as important for two reasons though. Firstly, his creative relationship with Homme was always seen as a very close one; the two had played in bands with each other since they were teenagers in the '80s and always appeared to work very closely together.
Secondly Oliveri has always been a real larger-than-life, rock and roll figure. You could argue that, in the first half of the noughties, if you hadn't seen Nick Oliveri perform naked, you hadn't properly experienced rock music.
Everything from his penchant for going on stage wearing nothing but boots and a bass guitar strapped across his genitals to his always well-trimmed ginger beard mark him out as one of the last decade's coolest musicians. Anyone who's seen him perform with QOTSA, Mondo Generator, The Dwarves, or any of the other numerous acts he's turned up in, will testify to this fact.
Better Living Through Chemistry
As we've mentioned, drugs are a pretty big reference point on Rated R. In case the title of this track wasn't a clue enough, then it's worth stressing that they become important again here.
If the desert music scene was all about stoners in the '90s then here LSD becomes the name of the game here. That classic intro - with bongos, reverb heavy piano and driving bass - mixes elements of Acidy Beatles and the more trippy ends of '70s prog. Then there are the lyrics…
Monsters In The Parasol
Monsters In The Parasol, the third song to be released as a single from Rated R, first appeared in 1998 on Volume 4 of Josh Homme's Desert Sessions project.
The Desert Sessions were a project that Homme started in 1997 at the Rancho De La Luna studio in his native Joshua Tree, California. So far ten volumes of the collaborative recording project have been released, featuring contributions from Homme, PJ Harvey, Josh Freese and members of Kyuss, Screaming Trees and Soundgarden among many others.
Originally recorded as Monster In The Parasol, the track was performed on Volume 4 by a band featuring both Homme and Oliveri under the moniker of The Green Monarchs. The original is a slightly more sedate, churning stoner rock affair than the QOTSA version - although the version that appears on Rated R is still one of the most Kyuss-like, stoner-rock-influenced moments on the album. Check out the YouTube clip below of the Desert Sessions version.
Homme has stated in a number of interviews over the last decade that Monsters In The Parasol is about a bad experience he had while on LSD. Listening to the lyrics we're not doubting that claim one bit.
Listen: The Green Monarchs - Monster In The Parasol (from Desert Sessions Vol. 4)
Quick And To The Pointless
Nick Oliveri takes lead vocal duties on Quick And To The Pointless. Homme has mentioned in interviews that the vocal take used on the recording was originally just meant to be a scratch (ie rough) vocal for the band to work to while they recorded the instrument parts.
However, Homme and Oliveri both liked the rough and aggressive nature of vocal take that they kept it and used it for the finished recording. Which could explain the origin of Oliveri saying "I don't even know what I'm doing here" at the beginning of the recording. Or maybe they just put that in because it sounded cool. Who knows? We're just speculating here.
Great song though, and always a highlight of their live shows around that time.
In The Fade/Feel Good Hit Of The Summer (Reprise)
In The Fade is notable as it is the first time that former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan takes lead vocal duties (although he also appears as a backing vocalist on Leg Of Lamb, Auto-Pilot and I Think I Lost My Headache).
Josh Homme had previously acted as a touring guitarist for Screaming Trees in the mid-'90s following the break-up of Kyuss. When Screaming Trees finally ended their 15 year career in 2000 Lanegan joined the ranks of QOTSA and continued to play with the band until '05.
Lanegan is actually, after Homme, QOTSA's longest standing member. Despite leaving the ranks of their live line-up in '05 he has continued to make appearances on every studio record since.
In The Fade is easy to overlook when surrounded by the catchier, more full-on tracks on Rated R, but in retrospect it's one of the albums most emotive, tender and, as a result, most interesting songs.
Tension Head
Tension head is a re-recording of the song 13th Floor by Mondo Generator, Nick Oliveri's main band.
The track originally appeared on Mondo Generator's debut album Cocaine Rodeo, which was recorded in 1997 but not released until 2000, around the same time as Rated R. Homme acted as guitarist for Mondo Generator until '04, so the dynamic between him and Oliveri on the original version is similar to the Rated R recording.
Mondo Generator, however, are a band with more of a hard-edged, punk and metal influenced vibe than QOTSA. Unsurprisingly Mondo's version is even rougher and harder than QOTSA's version. Listen below.
Listen: Mondo Generator - 13th Floor
Lightning Song
Lightning song is the only song on Rated R where a songwriting credit goes to David Catching.
Catching is the owner of the Rancho De La Luna studio where QOTSA recorded their debut album and where the majority of Homme's Desert Session volumes have been recorded.
Catching also picks up credits for playing a whole variety of instruments across the album's duration, including electric piano, lap steel and 12-string guitar.
As for the song itself, it's a short, sedate number. Maybe not Rated R's most memorable moment, but a welcome change of mood between the full-on Tension Head and the tense I Think I Lost My Headache.
I Think I Lost My Headache
Josh Homme has been quoted as saying that this, the closing track on Rated R, is his personal favourite on the album.
Personally we love this one for the two minute horn outro- where the grungy riffs eventually drop out to leave just this discordant brass section to finish the album off.
Homme has been known to state that I Think I Lost My Headache is meant to evoke a sense of paranoia, and those eerie horns certainly seem to leave us with that impression. It's a classic ending to an album; we don't think you could find a better way to round-off an album like Rated R than this.
Bonus tracks/ verdict
In terms of bonus content, this reissue of Rated R comes with a hand-full of b-sides, unreleased tracks and a live set from Reading Festival in 2000.
The studio tracks are a bit of a mixed bag. Ode To Clarissa will be familiar to anyone who picked up an original vinyl copy of Rated R, as it was a bonus track there too, and it's a pretty good, classic QOTSA sounding number.
You're So Vague is a slightly odd half-parody of Carly Simon's You're So Vein, although it doesn't really resemble that song very much. Never Say Never, on the other hand, is a cover of a minor hit single by Romeo Void from the early '80s. It sounds a little out of character for QOTSA, oddly dance-punk-ish, in a way.
The live set is nice to hear. Reassuringly at least a third of the MusicRadar team can (hazily) remember being in the audience for this Reading Fest performance. We remember it being a fairly jam-orientated set from a band who were as much on form as they were obviously on a certain amount of illicit substances. Listening back to it now brings back good memories…
So in all the bonus content here is far from essential stuff, but it's still nice to hear. Either way the extra stuff is fairly irrelevant; in case you haven't guessed over the last twelve slides, we think Rated R is pretty essential listening.
It still sounds pretty much as fresh and exciting in 2010 as it did when we first heard it ten years ago; a unique, genre defining and influential record.
It's also, fairly inexplicably, been out of print for several years now. So the fact that we can now pick-up a vinyl copy, having missed out first time round, is very good news however you look at it.
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SCBWI Carolinas Conference
by Cynthis Owens
Last Friday I traveled to Charlotte, NC for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Carolinas Fall Conference. I went prepared with a credit card and checkbook to buy books, three business casual outfits to dress up or down, note-taking materials, a fresh stack of business cards, an uber-organized notebook with all my conference materials, liquid caffeine and a super-sized carton of my favorite chocolate. If you've attended a conference before, you know these are essentials. If you haven't, copy this list and put it in a safe place.
So, I was prepared, but edgy. I was new to the children's writing world and needed specific information regarding the business of writing. Would this conference be worth the money I'd sunk into it? Three days and a mind-blowing amount of information later, the answer is a resounding YES.
The workshops broadly covered the basics of writing for the children's market. Each time slot held a beginner session with topics such as Plot and Pacing, Seeing the World Through 12-Year-Old Eyes, Intro to Writing and Illustrating for Children, and Visual Storytelling with Pictures and Words.
What I didn't expect was the openness in which business information was shared. Just before lunch on Saturday was a behind-the-scenes look at the editing process between Dial Books Editor Liz Waniewski and author Alan Gratz. If you think your work is over when an editor buys your book, think again. This discussion highlighted the extended revision process, in this case two start from scratch rewrites and five additional revision sets. Their talk also relayed how each division in the publishing house was integral in preparing Alan's latest work Fantasy Baseball due out in March 2011.
In her workshop The Realities of a Debut Author, Fran Cannon Slayton shared her year-long journey to market her first published work, When the Whistle Blows. Wanting to have no regrets when marketing her debut novel, Fran used a combination of blog reviews, festival visits, a self-prepared book tour, a private publicist, her publisher's publicist and Google alerts to create buzz for her work. She ended up spending almost her entire advance, but her book is now in its third hardcover printing and a paperback edition is arriving this fall. Another case of money well spent.
Overall, this conference was a great balance of writing craft and business application. The only shortcoming I noticed was a lack of illustrator workshops. The sessions were generally focused on the writing side of children's book creation.
To learn more about writing and illustrating for children, visit these links:
- SCBWI-Carolinas
- Elizabeth Dulemba – Covers writers and illustrators
- JacketFlap – Networking site for Kid Lit creators
- KidLit – Kid Lit industry information
Cynthia Owens loved to sing as child but frequently got into trouble for singing the lyrics played on the radio. Undaunted, she made up her own words. "I Love Rock N' Roll" became "I Love Honeycombs," and a writer was born.
After spending many years as a trainer and teacher, Cynthia returned to her first love. As an aspiring children's book writer, she delights in creating whimsical stories of friendship and self-discovery. Cynthia and her husband Robin make their home in South Carolina where they enjoy growing palm trees, hiking for blueberries and traveling to new places every chance they get.


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A budget van tyre by Autogrip.
Aberford, Allerton Bywater, Alwoodley, Arthington, Austhorpe, Bardsey cum Rigton, Beeston, Blenheim, Boston Spa, Bramley, Burley, Buslingthorpe, Carlton, Chapel Allerton, Clifford, Collingham, Colton, Drighlington, East Keswick, Farnley, Gildersome, Halton, Harewood, Hawksworth, Holbeck, Horsforth, Kippax, Ledsham, Ledston, Leeds, Linton, Manston, Micklefield, Middleton, Morley, Otley, Oulton, Pudsey, Rawdon, Rothwell, Scarcroft, Shadwell, Stourton, Sturton Grange, Swillington, Thorner, Thorp Arch, Thorpe on the Hill, Walton, Wetherby, Woodhouse, Wortley, Wothersome, Adel, Adwalton, Ainsty, Aireborough, Armley, Bardsey, Barwick-in-Elmet, Beck Hill, Beckett Park, Beeston Hill, Belle Isle, Bramham cum, Bramstan, Burmantofts, Calverley, Chapeltown, Churwell, Cockersdale, Cottingley, Cranmer Bank, Cross Gates, Cross Green, East Ardsley, East End Park, Far Headingley, Farsley, Fearnville, Fulneck Moravian Settlement, Garforth, Gipton, Gledhow, Great Preston, Guiseley, Halton Moor, Harehills, Headingley, Holbeck Urban Village, Holt Park, Hunslet, Hyde Park, Ireland Wood, Killingbeck, Kirkstall, Knowsthorpe, Lawnswood, Leeds city centre, Lincoln Green, Little London, Lofthouse, Lovell Park, Mabgate, Meanwood, Methley, Micklethwaite, Mickletown, Miles Hill, Moor Allerton, Moor Grange, Moorside, Moortown, Newall, Oakwood, Oglethorpe, Osmondthorpe, Pendas Fields, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Potternewton, Potterton, Quarry Hill, Richmond Hill, Robin Hood, Rodley, Roundhay, Scholes, Scott Hall, Seacroft, Sheepscar, Stanningley, Swarcliffe, Swinnow, Tingley, Tinshill, Tyersal, Weardley, Weetwood, West Ardsley, West Park, Whinmoor, Whitkirk, Wike, Woodlesford, Wykebeck, Yeadon.
Air Conditioning Recharge, Battery Check, Brake Inspection, Bulb Replacement, Diagnostics Check, Front Wheel Alignment, Locking Wheel Nut Removal, MOT, Nitrogen Inflation, Free Same Day Fitting, Servicing, Steering Check, Suspension Check, Tyre Repair, Vehicle Health Check, Wheel Alignment, Wheel Balance Check, Winter Check


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Oglethorpe students practiced their networking skills a few weeks ago by participating in Career Take Out—three community dinners planned by the Alumni Office and Career Services. About 20 students participated in the events, along with alumni and staff members. The program connects students who are focusing on their job search and preparation with Oglethorpe alumni in similar career fields.
Alumni in Atlanta graciously opened their homes to students for small dinner parties, bringing everyone together in a friendly environment for good food, conversation, career advice and camaraderie. This year's event focused on three specific career/majors: English Communications, Pre-Law and undecided majors.
Janice McNeal '97, a community volunteer and philanthropist, hosted the English/Communications group, along with Ashish Thakur '99, executive director and CFO of The Indus Entrepreneurs of Atlanta, Megan Van Doran '09, social marketing specialist for the InterContinental Hotels Group, and Danielle Hitchchock '12, a marketing coordinator for the Heeney Company.
Deborah Lange '03 , director of admissions for the Lovett School, and her husband Rocky Lange, a Financial Advisor for BB&T, hosted the Undecided group, along with alums Trevor Sheffield '09, manager of marketing and customer relations at Geo Certs SSL, and Whitney Hockensmith '09, customer service representative at Enterprise Fleet Management.
Joe '91 and Andrea Shelton '91 hosted the Pre- Law group. Joe is a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher and Phillips LLC, and Andrea is an attorney and as well as president and founder of Heart Bound Ministries. Alex Johnson '07, an attorney at Gillis and Creasy LLC, and Bobby Baker '79, a partner at Freeman, Mathis and Gary, also joined the group.
La Tasha Bellamy, a senior majoring in Communication and Rhetoric Studies, felt participating was well worth it. "Attending gave us the opportunity to connect with one another and meet new and such resourceful and amazingly talented people within our degree/career interests."
Felisha Ellison, a sophomore studying Communication also enjoyed the evening. "I participated in the Communications Networking dinner and found it to be extremely rewarding," said Ellison. "I learned much valuable information, and met many new knowledgeable contacts. Thank you so much for organizing and helping to provide this special event for Oglethorpe students. It was a wonderful opportunity!"
Look out for the next Career Take Out, planned for the spring 2013 semester!
Amy Clemente, MS, NCC is the Career Counselor at Oglethorpe's Center for Experiential Learning.


text: Venezuela based street artist Flix emailed letting us know that we've never featured any work from Venezuela, and we think he's right. Well, let's start a little with his work which seems to be inspired by Banksy, at least his stencil work... Actually, we're en route to Mexico as this post goes live. Not South America, but we're south of San Francisco.


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The Resort Hershey offers 276 rooms full with full-service facilities. With 967-sq.-toes, this expansive suite boasts panoramic views of the ocean with a large, furnished wraparound patio with seating for eight. Ideal for longer stays and bigger gatherings, settle into one of our spacious suites and loosen up into your stunning environment. This room boasts 682-sq.-toes of dwelling area with a separate seating space for eight and magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean and our resort poolscape.
Timelessly appealing, these 400 sq ft luxurious lodge rooms provide guests plush beds and stylish furnishings. Husband-and-spouse material designers Peter Fasano and Elizabeth Hamilton created the feminine palette for this guest bed room. We've got greater than 70 million property critiques, they usually're all from actual, verified friends. With one king mattress and all the amenities of the premier room, this spacious 786-square-foot suite overlooks the resort poolscape and affords views of the … Read the rest


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Wednesday 30 July 2014 14:39, UK
France international Antoine Griezmann has officially joined Atletico Madrid after signing a six-year contract with the Spanish champions.
Atletico and Real Sociedad announced on Monday that they had agreed a deal for the 23-year-old, believed to be worth around 30million euros (£24m), and the forward completed the move on Tuesday following a successful medical.
Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has expressed his delight at finally signing the forward, who originally declared his interest in joining Los Rojiblancos back in 2011.
"I'm very happy that we have secured a deal for his arrival," Caminero told the club's official website.
"Antoine was a priority for us and thankfully we've made it a reality. He is one of the best players in our league, as he demonstrated with Real Sociedad.
"He can play perfectly on the wing or behind the striker due to his speed; he can score goals, he has a great shot on him and he is a magnificent assist provider.
"His signing is great news for our our club."
Although born in France, Griezmann joined Real Sociedad's academy aged 13, making his first team debut in 2010. He was vital to the Basques finishing fourth in the Primera Division in 2012-13 and qualifying for the Champions League, and last term he scored 20 goals as the club earned a place in the Europa League.
The forward bade farewell to the San Sebastian side in a press conference on Monday, declaring: "I spent 10 incredible years here. I came as a boy and leave as a man."
Speaking on Tuesday, former team-mate and close friend Alberto de La Bella said it was "the right time" for Griezmann to move on.
"He has had a great year, he went to the World Cup and La Real have earned a lot of money (from the move) so everyone is happy," said the defender.
"He has taken a step to continue growing and right now we wish him all the best and we're going to keep supporting him."


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• thwart •
Pronunciation: thwart • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Verb, transitive
Meaning: 1. To obstruct, to block, to foil, frustrate, prevent by opposition. 2. To traverse, cross, pass from side to side or straddle.
Notes: Today's Good Word is the only word in English that begins with the consonants THW that is not a variant of another word beginning with WH, such as thwack (from whack) and thwittle (from whittle). This word may also be used as a noun referring to the transverse seat in a small boat and as a preposition or adverb meaning "across, astraddle", though in the latter sense it usually appears with the prefix a: athwart, as to stand athwart the path.
In Play: We best know this word in its sense of obstruction: "Marvin's inability to speak any foreign language thwarts his best efforts to learn about the countries he travels to." As usual, however, we mourn the loss of the original meaning of this word so, as a purely Quixotic gesture, offer this example: "If Lionel promises to help you, make sure he isn't thwarting his fingers behind his back." And, of course, birds known as crossbeaks or crossbills have thwarted beaks.
Word History: This word began its life in Old English as an adverb meaning "from side to side, cross, perverse". It originated as Proto-Indo-European twork-/twerk- "to twist", which also motivated Latin torquere "to twist", the origin of English torque. Apparently torches were originally made of twisted brush for torch is also based on Latin torquere. Sanskrit tarkuh "spindle", Croatian traka "(highway) lane" from Old Slavic traku "band, girdle," and Modern German drechseln "to turn (on a lathe)" are other words from the same PIE root. (Today we thank Marcia Montgomery for allowing nothing to thwart her attempt to send this very Good Word to alphaDictionary.)
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!


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Harley-Davidson officials confirmed in an investor conference call Thursday that it intends to discontinue the FLTRX Road Glide Custom and the FLTRU Road Glide Ultra from its 2014 model line up. Senior vice president and CFO John Olin said the decision was part of the company's typical process of bringing models in and out of the lineup each year as it introduces new bikes. "While those two Road Glide models are strong for us, they represent a relatively small portion of our touring sales," Olin said in the investor call. "We don't expect any large impact for taking those two models out for the next model year."
HD's Chief Operating Officer Matt Levatich told the Milwaukee Business Journal the decision to discontinue those models was so the company could plan ahead for their business and "manage customer expectations. HD officials say the cuts would not have a material impact on sales going forward.
CEO Keith Wandell told MBJ Harley management isn't taking the competition lightly, but "we believe the way we've positioned our company and how we've transformed product development and the pipeline of products we have coming … Our job is to just bring great products to market and make sure we're winning with great products."
Wandell gave props to Polaris for picking Sturgis to relaunch the once famous brand. "I think they'll get certainly a lot of traffic, a lot of folks looking," Wandell told me. "But it's just going to be folks that are at Sturgis. I think when we then unveil our new products a couple weeks later, I think it'll more than offset what's been done there."
The post As Harley-Davidson Prepares for An Indian Revival it Drops Road Glide From Lineup. appeared first on USRiderNews.


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While allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests continue to surface from decades ago, a new report shows a decrease in accusations by current minors.
WASHINGTON — While allegations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests continue to surface from decades ago, a new report shows a decrease in accusations by current minors.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released its 2011 annual audit on abuse reports and costs April 10. The "Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" is the USCCB's ninth consecutive external audit.
In the report's preface, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, said it "supports the conclusion of both studies done by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, that the majority of allegations are way in the past."
"The Church must do all she can never to let abuse happen again," said Cardinal Dolan. "And we must all continue to work with full resolve toward the healing and reconciliation of the victims/survivors."
Dioceses reported receiving 594 credible claims of clergy sexual abuse last year. Over 90% of all abuse accusations last year allege incidents from at least two decades ago — cases in which 75% of the priests who were accused are either deceased, already removed from ministry, laicized or missing.
Three percent of allegations made during the 2011 audit period were made by current minors. Of the allegations made by current minors, seven were considered credible by law enforcement, three were determined to be false, five were determined to be boundary violations, and three are still under investigation.
"The number of credible accusations alleging abuse by a Catholic priest against a current minor went down," said David Pierre, author of Double Standard: Abuse Scandals and the Attack on the Catholic Church. "In 2010, the number of such allegations was eight. In 2011, the number went down to seven."
Misrepresentation by Media
In spite of the decrease in reported abuse by current minors, secular reports from outlets such as The Associated Press and Reuters seized on the overall number of claims to say that the number of child abuse cases reported rose in 2011. The total number of credible claims received in 2010 was 505, compared to 594 in 2011.
"To say that the accusation numbers are up doesn't give an accurate portrayal of what's really going on today," said Pierre. "The numbers of current abuse are very low."
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, added, "I've had it. I've been fighting this war for years to get the media to report honestly about what the report has said. … When they look at the report, they tease out the worst possible data and highlight it. It's outrageous, and it's intentional."
The Catholic League, in its press statement about the report, said, "The headlines should read, 'Abuse Problem Near Zero Among Priests.'" Looking at the numbers a different way, the Catholic League stated that "99.98% of priests nationwide had no such accusation made against them last year. Nowhere is this being reported."
"I've never seen an organization that was able to get a positive response for their good work on sexual abuse," said Monica Applewhite, an expert on the dynamics of sexual abuse in educational and religious environments. "The Church doesn't hire the media to tell us what the reports say. To learn if we're doing enough, we should be reading the report ourselves."
Applewhite noted that a recent study conducted by the Public Health Institute looked at media reporting on child sexual abuse. It found what Applewhite described as "superficial treatment" in news stories about sexual abuse, seldom reporting the nature of the relationship between the accuser and the accused.
"Most of these cases are relationship-based sexual abuse, but the media fails to say what the relationship was," said Applewhite.
That's not the only detail often left out of secular media reports.
Other Missing Information
The vast majority of cases are not pedophilia. Few secular media reports cite the preponderance of abuse being perpetrated by adult males on post-pubescent males.
The 2011 audit shows that 82% of alleged diocesan victims and 94% of alleged religious-order victims were male.
"The John Jay study found that four-fifths of victims were post-pubescent males," said Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, director of the Philadelphia Institute for Marital Healing. "That study showed that adult males with same-sex attraction are the most likely to become involved with adolescent males. Let's look at the true causes of the crisis. Criminologists lack the professional training and expertise to explain why adult males homosexually abuse adolescent males."
Not everyone agrees on this explanation, though. Karen Terry, a researcher who conducted the John Jay study, cautioned bishops in 2009 not to link the sexual abuse crisis with homosexuality, explaining that heterosexual men sometimes engage in homosexual acts.
Annual Costs
The audit also summarized the amount spent by dioceses and religious orders on legal settlements, therapy for victims, support for offenders, attorneys' fees and other abuse-related costs.
In 2011, the nearly $74 million spent on settlements represented a 17% decrease from what was spent in 2010, while the amount spent on attorneys' fees and other costs increased.
In total, settlement-related spending decreased from $150 million in 2010 to $144 million last year.
"There are positives to take out of the report," added Pierre. "What other organization puts out a report annually? It's a testament that the Church is working aggressively on the problem in a way that no other organization is doing."
"The annual audits show that we are clearly continuing in our commitment to educate our families, protect children in our institutions, and receive with compassion those who have been harmed," said Applewhite. "We're really moving in the right direction, but we can never say that we are finished in this work."
Tim Drake is based in
St. Joseph, Minnesota.
- Keywords:
- May 6-19, 2012